The Microscope And Graphic Imaging Center (MAGIC) houses several microscopes. There are two Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEMs), a Philips XL-40 and a Hitachi S-570. The SEMs are used to view surface structures. There is also a Zeiss 902 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) which is used to look at internal structures within cells. A confocal microscope for viewing fluorescently-labelled specimens is available online through our partnership with CSU Stanislaus.

 

The Scanning Electron Microscope The scanning electron microscope (SEM) provides information regarding surface structure, whether that surface is of a preserved, chemically fixed cell, or the surface of a microchip, crystal, rock or other non-living object. There are two SEMs at MAGIC. One is a Philips XL-40 (shown right). An IXRF x-ray energy dispersive spectrometer is attached to the SEM to analyze elemental composition within samples.

The Philips XL-40 SEM The SEM was acquired through a National Science Foundation Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement (ILI) grant. Click here to view SEM images

The Zeiss 902

The Transmission Electron Microscope The TEM is used to observe internal cellular structures. It is also used to observe negatively-stained materials such as isolated proteins, virus particles, and microbiology samples. Click here to view TEM images